Latest news and stories about repatriation in Portugal for expats and residents.
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More than 11,000 EU citizens have been repatriated from the Middle East since the start of the war initiated by Israel and the United States against Iran, including Portuguese nationals, the European Commission announced today.
A “delicate” process that requires “a lot of planning” has no exceptions, only priorities. Some countries are in the middle of the war, while others are only being affected collaterally.
Around 500 Portuguese citizens have already been repatriated from the Middle East, but many remain stranded in other parts of the world due to the cancellation of commercial flights, particularly connecting ones.
This is the estimate from the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities. Emídio de Sousa added that another hundred are arriving this Tuesday on an Emirates flight.
This is the estimate from the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities. Emídio de Sousa added that another hundred are arriving this Tuesday on an Emirates flight.
Flights chartered by TAP and the Air Force have repatriated hundreds of national citizens in recent days.
The Air Force C-130 aircraft departed from Doha, Qatar, after the passengers had travelled more than nine hours by bus to Riyadh.
Hezbollah has sworn allegiance to the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeds his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. NATO intercepted three missiles flying over Turkish airspace. More than 50 Portuguese citizens who were in Qatar arrived in Portugal today.
The third and, for now, final repatriation flight, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrived today.
These Portuguese citizens were in Qatar. They were repatriated on a Portuguese Air Force flight that transported a total of 61 people. In addition to the 54 Portuguese nationals, 7 foreign citizens from Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea were on the flight. On the ground, Israel launches a new wave of attacks against Beirut and Tehran.
Rafael Silva guarantees that what he saw left him traumatised. The first few hours on Portuguese soil have not yet been enough to forget everything.
Lisbon authorities have repatriated around 500 nationals from the Middle East following attacks on Iran, and the 73 Portuguese on a cruise in Dubai have also started to leave this Saturday. The cruise passengers were held on the ship for a week and are now departing with commercial flights arranged by the shipping company, a process monitored by the Portuguese government, despite complaints about a lack of contact from authorities. Emídio Sousa, Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, stated that the Portuguese ambassador visited the ship and spoke with half of the passengers, while acknowledging that some may not have been contacted. The Dubai airport has resumed operations after a brief suspension, and the situation continues to evolve amid ongoing conflict in the region.
Portugal has already repatriated 500 citizens from the Middle East. Authorities in Lisbon have brought back around 500 nationals following the attacks on Iran, with 73 Portuguese on a cruise in Dubai also starting to leave today. Passengers were held on the ship for a week and are now departing, with commercial flights arranged by the cruise company, a process monitored by the Portuguese government despite complaints about lack of contact from authorities. Emídio Sousa, Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, stated that the ambassador visited the ship and spoke with half of the Portuguese passengers. He acknowledged that while some may not have been contacted, the group as a whole was kept informed. The Dubai airport has resumed operations after a brief suspension. Meanwhile, the UAE Defence Ministry reported intercepting 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones. Trump announced that Iran would face a strong attack today, marking a week since the US and Israel began military operations against Tehran. He noted Iran's apology to its neighbours but rejected unconditional surrender. The Iranian president, in turn, refused the surrender demand, calling it a “dream to take to the grave” but apologised for recent attacks on non-military targets in the region, attributing them to communication failures. Amidst the conflict, Iran attacked a tanker in the Persian Gulf, and the US has approved new arms sales to Israel, warning of intensified bombings.
Cristiana and Mariana explain how the journey went, from the invitation to the secret meeting point.
A Portuguese resident in Abu Dhabi reports on the situation in the region. She mentions that the Portuguese embassy has created a group with national citizens to share updated information.
The state government of Ceará has announced it will pay for the transfer of the woman's remains back to Brazil after she was killed in Portugal.
If the body is not claimed within 45 days after being released by the PJ, the burial may be carried out in absentia.
Lucinete Freitas was killed on 5 December 2025 by her employer, who is also Brazilian, and was found 13 days later by the Polícia Judiciária (Portugal's criminal investigation police). The family cannot afford the roughly €10,000 cost.
The family has still not secured the funds, about €10,000, to repatriate Lucinete Freitas's body to Brazil. The deadline for removal is up to 45 days after release by the Judicial Police.
